Yellowstone Sportsman Lake Trail Campground Ban Following Bear Attack

September 2 2002 at 9:00 PM

roger (no login)

A park visitor was bitten by a bear while sleeping in his tent at a designated backcountry campsite on the Sportsman Lake Trail in the northwest section of the park on the evening of Friday, August 30th. Mike Barbic of Plano, Texas, had a two-day backcountry permit and was staying his first night at his assigned campsite when the incident occurred. He had set up camp and retired for the evening when he was awakened by the bear biting him through the tent, ripping a hole through it. Barbic screamed, frightening the bear away. Because Barbic did not actually see the bear, it's not known whether it was a black or grizzly bear. Barbic laid quite still for roughly an hour, listening for bear activity, before exiting the tent. He then put his partially collapsed tent back up and spent the remainder of the night there. At one point during the night, he heard scratching noises near the tree where he had hung his food. At daybreak, Barbic packed up his camp and hiked to the Glen Creek Trailhead where his vehicle was parked. He then drove to Mammoth Hot Springs and reported the incident to rangers. Barbic received a puncture wound and a one-inch laceration to the right side of his buttocks. He was treated and released from the Mammoth Hot Springs Clinic. Strong bear warnings have been posted along the Sportsman Lake Trail and overnight camping has been prohibited in this area. [Public Affairs, YELL]